Six ways to jumpstart your off-campus search

1. Be prepared with your pitch at all times: as we hope you know, job opportunities can come from completely unexpected places, which is why you need to regularly network and meet new people. We have heard about MBA students who successfully pitched people during sporting events, random connections in a building cafeteria, and even a grocery store trip. Even if the person you’re talking to doesn’t work in the industry you’re pursuing, you never know who he or she knows!

2. Research boutique firms: if you’re pursuing consulting, you may have seen our list of consulting firms, which serves as a reminder that there are dozens of firms you might consider beyond those that typically recruit on-campus. The same is true for many other industries, from marketing to banking to tech. While boutique firms don’t hire in the same numbers as the big firms (in fact, they could even have employee counts in the single digits), they could give you the opportunity to get into the niche that appeals to you much more quickly and easily.

3. Research unconventional locations: bankers are all in London, Singapore, and New York; tech jobs are all in Silicon Valley; working in energy means you have to be in Houston… right? Not necessarily. Virtually every industry has opportunities across the country and the world – what’s more, landing in an area where that industry is not significantly represented could allow you to make a name for yourself much more quickly. Start looking around to find out where you dream company has satellite offices, or where your ideal industry has more specialized companies in different locations. Remember, Warren Buffet is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

4. Complete your ProValues: as you’re preparing that pitch, you’ll want to be confident about all the reasons that your career choice is right for you. This is a good time to revisit ProValues, which will help you not only identify but articulate why a particular industry or position aligns perfectly with your skills and priorities.

5. Talk with alumni: in addition to your usual networking efforts, consider seeking out alumni who have pursued unique career paths; even if they’re not in the specific field you are hoping to pursue, their insights on how to navigate a nontraditional career path may help you come up with new ideas about how you might move forward. List 2-3 people you could reach out to today.

6. Talk with a professional: if you’re looking to really kick your job search into gear, consider investing in some professional career coaching; if that option is of interest to you, email us set up a consultation.